Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce remains hopeful that the club can tie Jack Grealish down to a new contract after confirming that talks with the midfielder are progressing.

Grealish stayed put at Villa Park in the summer transfer window, despite strong interest from Tottenham Hotspur, but Bruce has paid tribute to the academy product’s attitude throughout the period intense speculation.

Now, with the uncertainty that the window brings diminished, Bruce is hopeful that the club will be able to offer their prized asset new and improved terms - though he has admitted the situation has been made a little tricky by the fact there’s no chief executive at the club to conduct such talks!

Cup draw

Aston Villa have been drawn to face Burton Albion in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Villa came out of the hat after the Brewers so the tie will be away at the Pirelli Stadium.

It will take place in the week commencing August 27.

Villa made hard work of beating Yeovil Town in the previous round.

Conor Hourihane grabbed a late winner against the League Two club at Huish Park after the Glovers had a goal ruled out and saw a penalty saved by Villa debutant Andre Moreira.

Villa have only played two competitive matches at Burton, drawing 1-1 in the 2016-17 season with Jonathan Kodjia on target and winning 4-0 last season, thanks to goals from Keinan Davis, Albert Adomah, Robert Snodgrass and Josh Onomah.